ISABELLA
I walked into the office that morning feeling like a ghost wearing someone else’s skin. The new outfit, a fitted cream blouse and a high-waisted black skirt that actually showed my figure, still felt foreign. My hair was down again, and I’d kept the sexy glasses and red lipstick. But inside, I was a mess. My stomach had been churning since I left the hotel, and the memory of my mother’s sudden appearance yesterday sat like a stone in my gut. I hadn’t told Rafael the full truth. I was too scared of what he might do.
I headed straight to his office, files in hand, hoping to drop them off quickly and disappear into my desk for the day. The door was open. Rafael was already in a meeting with three women I didn’t recognise. They were all stylish, confident, and clearly competent, ex
